CHAPTER 2 Part I Electricity Generation: SKEE2413 Basic Power Engineering

SKEE2413
BASIC POWER ENGINEERING
CHAPTER 2 part i
Electricity Generation
INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Objectives
Student should be able to:
1. List and describe conventional and new methods of

electrical power generation.
2. Discuss configurations of two types of conventional power

generation, namely steam and hydro.
3. Calculate parameters and performances related to

electricity generation.

Introduction
Generation of electrical energy is the first process in delivering

of power to consumers.
Electrical energy can be categorised as a commodity that

undergoes production process, similar to that of clothes, food
electricity generation is also involved a process of converting

various nonelectrical energy such as mechanical, chemical
etc into electrical energy.
The main difference in electrical energy production compared

to other commodities is that electricity must be produced
based on immediate demand,
Introduction
The energy must be processed and transmitted at the instant

it is required by consumers.
Since the electricity supply and demand process is almost

instantaneous, the electricity generation requires
complicated technical and economic approaches.

Generation of Electrical Energy
Electrical energy is generated by converting non-electrical

energy in suitable manner into electrical energy.
The conversion process can be divided into two categories:
i. Generation of mechanical energy to rotate electrical

generator.
ii. Direct conversion of non-electrical energy into electrical
energy with the aid of energy storage components such
as batteries.

The techniques commonly utilised for generation of

mechanical energy to rotate electrical generators are:
a. Generation of heat/steam.
This method is basically involved either burning of suitable

fuel resources or activating nuclear reaction to produce heat.
The heat is subsequently used to turn water into dried high

pressure steam which becomes the mechanical energy
source to move the turbine and generator shaft.

Commonly used sources of energy in the method are:
i. Coal.
ii. Petroleum (Hydrocarbon Oil).
iii. Natural gas.
iv. Uranium (nuclear fission).
v. Deutrium (nuclear fusion).

b. Generation of mechanical energy directly from the

source.
The stored kinetic energy readily available is used to develop

mechanical energy source for electrical generator.
Sources available are:
i. Water (hydro).
ii. Geothermal.
iii. Wind.
iv. Wave.

In direct conversion of non-mechanical energy into electrical

energy, there are natural resources that can be used to
generate electricity.
Among the sources are:

i. Solar energy.
ii. Fuel cell.

Generation Based on Electrical
Generator
Electrical generating stations have machine that functions to

convert raw materials such as coal, gas, water et cetera to
mechanical energy.
The energy is used to power the synchronous generator,

which is the main component in production of electrical
energy.

Generator

Generator
Mechanical energy produces torque to rotate generators

shaft.
Shaft rotation enables flux from rotating structure to cut

conductors at the stationary part of the generator, which
produces electrical source in the form of generated voltage at
the line terminal of the generator.

Thermal Power Station
Thermal power station involves conversion of heat energy

from coal combustion into electrical energy.
The station is based on Rankine cycle concept:

mechanical power is generated by evaporating water to
high pressure steam in order to run the generator.
The steam produced at high pressure has sufficient

mechanical energy to be able to move turbines and rotates
synchronous generator to generate electrical power.

(a) Sample of coal for power generation, and (b) Thermal power station

The main components in the generation process at thermal

power station :
i. Coal and ash handling scheme.

ii. Steam generating plant.
iii. Steam turbine.
iv. Synchronous generator.
v. Water processing plant.
vi. Electrical connecting apparatus to transmission
line.

The efficiency of thermal power station is quite low, less

than 30%.
This is due to heat loss in various generating processes,

starting from burning of coal to the mechanical power
developed to move the steam turbine.

Thermal efficiency
The overall generating efficiency is

Overall efficiency of a thermal power station is 20%. 0.6 kg of coal is

required to produce 1 kWh of electrical energy. It is known that 1 kWh of
electrical energy is equivalent to 860 kcalorie (kcal). Calculate the value
of energy from fuel source for the station.

A 100 MW thermal station uses source of 6400 kcal/kg. Thermal and

overall efficiencies are 30% dan 27.6%. respectively. Obtain (i) coal
consumption for every hour and (ii) electrical efficiency, if the station
supplies the rated electrical output.


Hydroelectric Station
Hydroelectric station involves conversion of hydraulic energy

into electrical energy.
main components in a hydroelectric
station are:
i. Dam.
ii. Spillways.
iii. Headworks.
iv. Surge tank.
v. Penstock.
general structural schematic for a hydroelectric station

A dam is constructed across river or lake to form reservoir.
A tunnel is built to connect the dam to a large pipeline called

penstock through valve house.
A surge tank on top of penstock is to protect the penstock

against sudden increase of pressure that occurs if turbine
opening is suddenly closed due to rapid decrease of electrical
load at generator.
In this situation, water pressure is transferred from the

penstock to the surge tank which will increase the water level
in the tank.
Energy from water in the reservoir depends on the volume

and difference in height between water source and output.
This height difference is called head, for which the stored

energy is directly proportional to the water head.
To obtain a high head, water from the dam used to move

hydraulic turbine is channelled through penstock to the
turbine.
The turbine converts hydraulic energy from water into

mechanical energy which is then transferred to the generator
shaft for subsequent conversion to electrical energy.
Cross-sectional view of connection between hydro turbine and generator

Water turbines normally used in hydroelectric station
i. Impulse turbine
-used for a high water head.

-High water pressure from nozzle
is sprayed to turbine blades and
the velocity of the water jet drives
the wheel.

ii. Reaction turbine
is used for low and medium water head.

For this turbine, water pressure combines with head velocity
to move the turbine blades.
Examples of the turbine : Francis and Kaplan turbines.
Francis turbine : for medium and low head with the flow of
water in parallel with axis of the turbine.
Kaplan turbine : for low head, same as francis but differs in

the aspect of water flow through the axis of turbines shaft.

Calculation of performance for hydroelectric station
It is known that mass for 1 m3 of water is 1000 kg and

typical value for constant of gravitational acceleration is 9.81
m/s2.






Gas Turbine Power Station
Generating station that uses gas as fuel to power the turbine

is known as gas turbine generating station.
In the gas turbine, mechanical energy is developed by a
combination of compressed air and burning gas.
Intially, air is compressed in compressor then combined with

the burning fuel in combustion chamber.
The process results in increase of temperature and pressure

of the compressed air.
This enables air to flow with high velocity volume to rotate the
turbine and move the generator.
Gas Turbine Power Station
(a) Gas turbine generating station (b) Electricity generation process

inside gas turbine
Wind Power Electric Generator
Energy from wind has become one of the potentially

viable renewable energy resources contributing to
commercial electrical energy generation.
Although currently wind generation is not significant in

most countries, however technological advances related
to wind generation and clean source of wind energy are
expected to increase role of the generation in near future.

Wind turbine is used to convert energy from wind to electrical energy.

Wind rotates turbine blades and electrical power is obtained when the
turbine is connected to electrical generator.


Since wind cannot be predicted accurately and differs from

the load demand pattern, electrical supply from wind station
cannot be scheduled accordingly to fulfill the given load as
the other conventional generation techniques.
Thus, in commercial generation, it is commonly used to

replace other generation techniques at specific time and also
contributes to reserve supply source such as battery system
and hydro-based pumped storage.

Blades of turbine rotor normally covers a circular area. The

area can be calculated by
where A : area covered by rotor (m2)

r : radius of the rotor

Power obtained from the wind depends on area covers by

turbine rotor and speed and density of the wind.
P : derived power (Watt),

d : wind density,
A : rotor area (m2),
v : wind speed (m/s).

Air density depends on elevation (height) above ground

while surrounding temperature does not significantly affect
energy produced by wind. Therefore, magnitude of wind
power:
Wind power density is a parameter normally used and

defined as power from the wind per unit area occupied by
the turbine blade (in W/m2).

Direct Conversion Method : Solar
Solar energy is one of the preferred source of energy

nowadays.
This is due to the fact that the energy is renewable, clean

and does not have significant impact to the environment.
Sun ray is estimated to produce 1000 W/m2 of energy at sea

level on earth surfaces.
However, the energy conversion process to electrical energy

with available technology at this moment is still quite low,
which is about 100 W/ m2.

As an example, a photovoltaic (PV) panel with an

efficiency of 15% is normally be able to generate between
19 to 60 W/m or 0.45 to 1.35 kWh/m/day.

shows an arrangement of PV panel that is used to

generate electrical power.

Typically energy from the sun rays is converted to electrical

energy by utilising PV cell (also known as photoelectric cell).
PV cell is a semiconductor device that receives photon from

sun rays to produce charge carriers (electrons and holes) in
the cell.
The separation of charge carrier to conductor side results into

flow of electrical current.
The conversion process is known as photovoltaic effect.

Photovoltaic effect in PV cell

A PV system for generating alternating current source is

normally consisted of the following components:
1. PV cell module.
2. Junction box.
3. Charge regulator.
4. Fuse and DC wiring system.
5. Battery.
6. DC/AC inverter.


Battery unit is used to store energy produced by the PV cell

during the day, which is then consumed at night.
For commercial scale applications, normally the PV system is

connected to the grid system.
There is an inverter component or a Power Conditioning Unit

(PCU).
The function of PCU is to convert DC to AC power that

fulfills voltage and power quality specifications of the power
grid system. The unit also cut the supply to the grid if the grid
is not functioning.
Connection arrangement from PV system to grid and loads


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SKEE2413

BASIC POWER ENGINEERING

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Student should be able to:

1. List and describe conventional and new methods of

2. Discuss configurations of two types of conventional power

3. Calculate parameters and performances related to

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Generation of electrical energy is the first process in delivering

Electrical energy can be categorised as a commodity that

electricity generation is also involved a process of converting

The main difference in electrical energy production compared

The energy must be processed and transmitted at the instant

Since the electricity supply and demand process is almost

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Electrical energy is generated by converting non-electrical

The conversion process can be divided into two categories:

i. Generation of mechanical energy to rotate electrical

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

The techniques commonly utilised for generation of

This method is basically involved either burning of suitable

The heat is subsequently used to turn water into dried high

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Commonly used sources of energy in the method are:

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

b. Generation of mechanical energy directly from the

The stored kinetic energy readily available is used to develop

Sources available are:

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

In direct conversion of non-mechanical energy into electrical

Among the sources are:

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Electrical generating stations have machine that functions to

The energy is used to power the synchronous generator,

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Mechanical energy produces torque to rotate generators

Shaft rotation enables flux from rotating structure to cut

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Thermal power station involves conversion of heat energy

The station is based on Rankine cycle concept:

The steam produced at high pressure has sufficient

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

The main components in the generation process at thermal

i. Coal and ash handling scheme.

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

The efficiency of thermal power station is quite low, less

This is due to heat loss in various generating processes,

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

The overall generating efficiency is

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Overall efficiency of a thermal power station is 20%. 0.6 kg of coal is

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

A 100 MW thermal station uses source of 6400 kcal/kg. Thermal and

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Hydroelectric station involves conversion of hydraulic energy

general structural schematic for a hydroelectric station

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

A dam is constructed across river or lake to form reservoir.

A tunnel is built to connect the dam to a large pipeline called